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FLASH: 悪 (AKU) – QUEEN BEE

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Queen Bee aku

AKU is the ninth album from the highly prolific Japanese Fashion Punk Rock band Queen Bee. And it’s not to be missed! Review.

悪 (AKU) – QUEEN BEE

Since 悪 (AKU) translates as Evil, one might assume that Queen Bee is entering their villain era. Or at the very least, that the band envisioned this album as a soundtrack to their darker selves. However, the Kobe-based group has always embraced fascinating aesthetics, balanced between softness and danger, both sonically and visually. The spring-themed album cover, marked by a red laser aiming at Avu-chan’s third eye, plays with ambiguity. A threat is clearly present, even targeting the innocent. But where does it come from? Could our inner demons be the ones to confront it?

Opening with the epic delicacy of Purple, the band refuses to conform to the conventional boxes of punk, and yet. Their raw attitude and love for the unexpected firmly root them within the movement. Rhapsody follows, bursting with vibrant, emotional pop elements. Here, Avu-chan pushes the limits of their voice. It comes from the heart, and it’s sublime. Super Memorial goes even further, layering electro and guitar for an upbeat explosion of colour and energy. Then Mountain Hunt impresses again, with its soaring notes, clear piano, and untamed spirit. Impressively lovable!

The surprises keep coming on this stunning album. SAILOR brings unexpected rhythms, a grunge undercurrent, a classical organ and a technically brilliant solo. Next, funk and rap take over on 08, flavours of which resurface in OMAMAGOTO, which feels ripped straight from a horror film. From this point on, the spring hues give way to a deep darkness. The next track is the mesmerising and already wildly popular Mephisto, with orchestration as gripping as its vocals. The tale of this fallen angel continues with Headless Angel, much catchier, even in its most unsettling moments.

Then comes 01, the penultimate track and a total banger. It grabs you by the guts from start to finish, once again confirming the sheer power of Avu-chan’s voice. Simply put, they possess one of the finest voices in modern music. Queen Bee closes this ninth record with Aku, a minimal and restrained piece that lends the album its name. In stark contrast to the rest, it perfectly encapsulates the ambiguous, layered meaning of this striking release.

 

Now Playing: AKU

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📷:  QUEEN BEE
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